Eowyn has just run away from Wormtongue to enjoy the lovely view from the front porch of the Golden Hall.

Feel free to answer any, all or none of these questions:

1) How well does this image portray what Eowyn is feeling? Do you think it would convey the same sort of emotion if you didnít know the context?

2) We can see huge swathes of the plains of Rohan in this shot. Is this how you think the environs of Rohanís capital city Ė and Rohan in general Ė should look? Do you think it looks a little empty? (For instance, there donít appear to be any crops a-growing anywhere in this shot)

3) The flag is shown just as it starts to fly away from Eowyn here. Do you like what the writers did with that?

4) Music question! Through this scene (from Eowyn first running out of the room) we have what seem to be the first proper statements of Eowynís and Rohanís themes. Any comments on the use of the themes and the audience's first impressions of them? Are they important in conveying the emotion of the scene?

(The music is approximately from 2:42-3:51 on "Edoras", Disc 2 Track 1 on the Complete Recordings (A slightly shortened version is 0:36-1:35 on "The King Of The Golden Hall" from the OST). Here is a clickable youtube link to the appropriate time on the track.)

1) How well does this image portray what Eowyn is feeling? Do you think it would convey the same sort of emotion if you didnít know the context? I remember that very soon some people show up that steal the scene more or less and they begin to greatly influence Eowyn's feelings and decisions. It's hard to say much that is definitive. It is true that crops aren't visible but the shot shows a lot of distant background filled with wide stretching open fields and we know from other scenes that there is civilization out there. We can't see Eowyn's face but we an tell that since her back is to Edoras that this is the least likely place that she is focused on at the moment. Maybe she was looking for help or some sign of hope ... or maybe I just think that because I remember that such a thing is just what turns up.

2) We can see huge swathes of the plains of Rohan in this shot. Is this how you think the environs of Rohanís capital city Ė and Rohan in general Ė should look? Do you think it looks a little empty? (For instance, there donít appear to be any crops a-growing anywhere in this shot) I see the mountains but there is nothing definitive to focus on.

3) The flag is shown just as it starts to fly away from Eowyn here. Do you like what the writers did with that? I haven't a clue to be honest. But doesn't that flag end up leading to the hope she ends up focusing on?

4) Music question! Through this scene (from Eowyn first running out of the room) we have what seem to be the first proper statements of Eowynís and Rohanís themes. Any comments on the use of the themes and the audience's first impressions of them? Are they important in conveying the emotion of the scene?

I could literally hear it in the back of my mind just while looking at the picture! That tells you the power of mixing musical themes with highly emotional moments ... or maybe it's just a Howard Shore thing?

5) Any further comments? The view is quite beautiful and the moment is breath-taking.

because this is a scene I've spoken of many times. I dug out an old correspondence and did a copy and paste. I often feel my first reactions are more real than when I rehash them over and over again. :-)

I've always loved how that scene was filmed in TTT, "Your words are poison". It seems so stifling and close in that room that holds imminent death. Eowyn throws those words at Wormtongue and flies out of the hall. I can just feel the sharp, cool air that blows past her. Her life is close, and stuffy, and filled with death and decay and the world is open and free and sharp. The only taste she gets of that world is the wind in her face as it blows past her. It is perhaps one of the most evocative scenes in all three movies for me.

1) How well does this image portray what Eowyn is feeling? Do you think it would convey the same sort of emotion if you didnít know the context?

I think it works well. She is literally and figuratively isolated, and the obviously strong wind reflects her inner turmoil. Also, if you look closely you realize that you can't see her fingers, her hands seem to be closed in fists of frustration.

2) We can see huge swathes of the plains of Rohan in this shot. Is this how you think the environs of Rohanís capital city Ė and Rohan in general Ė should look? Do you think it looks a little empty? (For instance, there donít appear to be any crops a-growing anywhere in this shot)

I never imagined farms nearby, I think of Rohan being the land of the Horse Lords, so open plains seem appropriate.

3) The flag is shown just as it starts to fly away from Eowyn here. Do you like what the writers did with that?

In the commentaries, PJ said that the flag really did tear off and fly away while filming. Of course we see this from different angles so I assume it happened once while filming, they liked the effect, and reproduced it in the other takes. I like it; it's both an omen of coming doom as well as a symbol of Eowyn's feelings of powerlessness.4) Music question! Through this scene (from Eowyn first running out of the room) we have what seem to be the first proper statements of Eowynís and Rohanís themes. Any comments on the use of the themes and the audience's first impressions of them? Are they important in conveying the emotion of the scene?

I think Howard Shore can do no wrong.

(The music is approximately from 2:42-3:51 on "Edoras", Disc 2 Track 1 on the Complete Recordings (A slightly shortened version is 0:36-1:35 on "The King Of The Golden Hall" from the OST). Here is a clickable youtube link to the appropriate time on the track.)

The atmosphere, the music, the pacing of the scene.... it's really something special. In general, the introduction to Rohan was masterfully done.

Just to answer question 2...the filmmakers were really at the mercy of what was available to them in New Zealand. The perfect location for Edoras led to sacrifices in other minor areas (like actual green land!). I think the positives outweigh the negatives!